Odometer.



UNITED STATES PA TENT OFFICE;

BAY H. MAN SON, 0F ELYRIA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE ,GARFORD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF ELYRIA, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ODOMETER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

Application filed October 12, 1912. Serial No. 725,423.

Elyria, in the county of Lorain and State of Ohioyhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Odometers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention disclosed in this application relatesto odometers or registering mechanism which are more particularly intended to register the mileage traversed by automobiles and similar vehicles. In the use of such vehicles, it is highly desirable to have a means for registering the mileage of a' particular trip or a particular days mileage. In order to insure the success of such an instrument, one should be able to restore the registering means to any desired point such as the beginning of the trip.

I aim to provide such a trip register and means for enabling the driver to restore the register to any desired indication at any time he desires, providing of course, that the trip register is capable of registering such indication In using the terms any desired indication, etc., it is understood that such terms are used with this meaning. I aim to provide such a device as will most readily lend itself to use in connection with guide books or road maps, such as used by motorists, or if the various points along a route are marked in terms of the mileage-from a given starting point. In the device of my invention even if the motorist takes up a route intermediate of its ends he can by reference to some known land mark indicated in such book or map set his trip register exactly in accordance therewith and proceed on his way, the register thereafter corresponding with his book or map indications. I am aware that devices having this general purpose have hitherto been provided, but they have been constructed in such a way that it was necessary to employ a plurality of devices for operating the instrumen It will. be seen by reference to my detailed description and to the drawing illustrating an embodiment of my invention, that I have there controlled the device through one instrument which can be operated by one of the hands of the driver.

Other objects of my invention and the in vention itself will be better understood by reference to they description of the particular embodiment illustrated in the drawing.

Figure 1 is a plan View of a device illustrating my invention, and in which some of the parts are shown in section. Fig. 2 is an elevation of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate details of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring now to the drawing and to the embodiment of my invention illustrated therein, at 1 I show a base plate for supporting apparatus. At 2 is shown the means for registering the mileage or whatever else it is desired to measure. The device 2 consists of a plurality of wheels 3, 4 and 5, one of which is connected to a ratchet wheel 6 adapted to be associated therewith in such a way as to drive the wheel 5. I have here shown a ratchet wheel, though any suitable device for this purpose may be employed. The'wheels 3, -l and 5 bear scales and are associated with each otherin any of the well known ways, so that motion can be communicated from, one to the other at the proper and desired time.-

Suitable ineansareprovided for driving the pawl wheel 6. I here show a driving pawl 7 which is driven through a shaft 8, a gear wheel 9 and a worm gear 10, mounted on a shaft L1, which is driven by the wheel of the automobile or other vehicle. The pawl is mounted upon an eccentric of the wheel, so that it is reciprocated when'the shaft 8 is rotated. This construction is well lznown and has not been illustrated in detail iere.

I provide suitable means for holding theratchet wheel into a driven position, that is, for example, in the form illustrated into the position into which it has been driven by the pawl 7. In the form shown I employ a holding pawl 12, which is pivoted at 13 to any suitable part, such as the frame or base plate 1. Means are provided for holding the pawls in engagement with the ratchet wheel. A spring is suitable for this purpose, and I have here illustrated a spring 1-1 which may be connected to the pawl and to any suitable member. I find it most convenient to connect this spring at one end to each of the sired to reset the trip register, or returnit to zero position, I provide means for releasing the registering mechanism from the control exercised over it by the previously described; mechanism, and assuming an inde pendent control thereof, and in the form shown, I employ a single device which con trols the mechanism governing both these operations.

A lever 20 is pivoted at 21 to a suitable portion of the frame. This lever carries a fork 22 on one end which engages a groove 23 upon a sliding member 2a. The lever 20 also-controls a cam 25 which is here shown as formed upon a portion of the le ver, bent out at substantially right angles thereto and constituting a portion of the material originally inclosed within the fork 22. The cam 25 preferably carries two cam surfaces 27 and 28 upon the opposite sides thereof. These surfaces engage the pawls 7 and 12, cumming them away from engaging position with the-ratchet wheel when the lever 20 is moved inward. I also provide suitable means for assuming control over the registering device when the same has been disengaged from the pawl. In the form shown, this consists of a plurality of open-' ings or slots 30 which may be formed on p the registering device and preferably upon jhe ratchet wheel 6. These slots or openings may be engaged by some member, such as a projection 31 upon the member 2a. In the form shown, the member 24: consists of a plunger 32 having a knurled portion which may be engaged by the fingers and rotated. \Vhen it is desired to reset the trip register, the plunger 82 is forced inward, sliding in the opening 40 in the nipple L1. This forces the member 20 inward, driving the cam 25, prying the pawls away from the ratchet wheel, releasing the registering mechanism therefrom and at the same time forcing the projection 31 into one of the openings 30 in the ratchet wheel, so that when the member 32 is rotated, the registering mechanism will be operated, enabling it to be set to any givenregistration by turning it in either direction. It is desirable that it should be rotatable in either direction when being reset, because much time may be saved when the registering mechanism is near the desired point by turning it backward or forward to that limit at the will of the operator. The lever 20 is held in its normal position by the pawls 7 and 12 which in turn are retained in position by the spring 14 These constitute the means means skilled in the art that numerous and extensive departures may be made from the form.- and details of the instrlunent illustrated. have shown this embodiment simply for the purpose of illustrating the invention, and not with any intention of being limited thereto, since the scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim- 1. In an odometer, the combination of reg" istering means, driving mechanism therefor, including a ratchet wheel and a driving pawl adapted to drive the registering means to any one of a plurality of positions, holding means for the registering means including a holding pawl and teeth on the ratchet wheel, apparatus for releasing the ratchet wheel from the pawls and assuming control thereof independently of the pawls including a pivoted lever provided with a cam for camming thepawls away from the ratchet wheel, and a manually ope able sliding member to engage the ratchet wheel to 0p erate the same.

2. In an odometer, the combination of registering means, including rotary reference carrying members, a ratchet wheel associated with the registering means, mechanism for driving said registering means, including a driving pawl and teeth on the ratchet wheel, mechanism for holding said registering means in driven position including a holding pawl and teeth on the ratchet wheel, apparatus for removing said. registering means from the control of said driving mechanism and said holding means, including a cam adapted when operated to move said pawls from engagement with the teeth on the ratchet wheel, means to assume control of said registering means when the pawls ha \e been disengaged from the ratchet wheel and a device for operating both the cam and the last named means to move the registering means in either direction when it has been released from the pawls.

3. in an odometer, the combination of registering mechanism including a ratchet wheel, a driving pawl and a holding pawl therefor, a lever carrying a cam for releasing said ratchet wheel from said pawl, said ratchet wheel being provided with a plural ity of slots, :1 plunger controlling said. lever to move said cam to engage said pawls to release said ratchet wheel from said pawls suitable" I may also hollow driving and a holding pawl, a lever pivoted and a catch on said plimger for engaging them from the ratchet wheel, said ratchet one of the slots in the ratchet wheel and wheelbeing provided with a plurality of 15 adapted to drive the same independently ofslots, means for engaging a slot to drive the 'pawls to cause said registering mecha-' said registering mechanism independently nism to show any desired indication. ofsaid pawls and a device controlling said 4. In an odometer, the combination of mg lever and said last named means.

lstering means, including rotary reference In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature 20 carrying members and a ratchet wheel, a in the presence of two Witnesses.

in said odometer, a cam member on said le-' 1 RAY MANSON ver prqecting at an angle from said lever,' Witnesses: said-cam member carrying two cam-surfaces F. O. RIOHEY, adapted to engage said pawls to disengage -D. A. GL0VER. 

